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Free Chinese & Japanese Online Dictionary

Include Japanese names (2-3 seconds longer).

If you enter English words, search is Boolean mode:
Enter fall to get just entries with fall in them.
Enter fall* to get results including "falling" and "fallen".
Enter +fall -season -autumn to make sure fall is included, but not entries with autumn or season.

Key:

Mandarin Chinese information. Old Wade-Giles romanization used only in Taiwan. Japanese information. Buddhist definition. Note: May not apply to all sects. Definition may be different outside of Buddhism.

proposition (logic, math.); to assign an essay topic (noun - becomes adjective with の) (1) proposition; thesis; notion; theory; (2) problem; issue; challengeThis term is used in Buddhism, but due to a licensing issue, we cannot show the definition

(transitive verb) (1) to challenge to (a fight, game, etc.); to throw down the gauntlet; to contend for; (v5m,vi) (2) to tackle (e.g. a problem); to attempt; to go after (a prize, record, etc.); (3) to pressure (someone) for sex; to make advances to

(transitive verb) (1) to receive; to get; (2) to catch (e.g. a ball); (3) to be struck by (wind, waves, sunlight, etc.); (4) to sustain (damage); to incur (a loss); to suffer (an injury); to feel (influence); (5) to undergo (e.g. surgery); to take (a test); to accept (a challenge); (6) to be given (e.g. life, talent); (7) to follow; to succeed; to be descended from; (8) to face (south, etc.); (9) (linguistics terminology) to be modified by; (10) to obtain (a pawned item, etc.) by paying a fee; (v1,vi) (11) (kana only) to be well-received; to become popular; to go down well; (12) (colloquialism) (kana only) to be funny; to be humorous

(transitive verb) (1) to receive; to get; (2) to catch (e.g. a ball); (3) to be struck by (wind, waves, sunlight, etc.); (4) to sustain (damage); to incur (a loss); to suffer (an injury); to feel (influence); (5) to undergo (e.g. surgery); to take (a test); to accept (a challenge); (6) to be given (e.g. life, talent); (7) to follow; to succeed; to be descended from; (8) to face (south, etc.); (9) (linguistics terminology) to be modified by; (10) to obtain (a pawned item, etc.) by paying a fee; (v1,vi) (11) (kana only) to be well-received; to become popular; to go down well; (12) (colloquialism) (kana only) to be funny; to be humorous

(transitive verb) (1) to receive; to get; (2) to catch (e.g. a ball); (3) to be struck by (wind, waves, sunlight, etc.); (4) to sustain (damage); to incur (a loss); to suffer (an injury); to feel (influence); (5) to undergo (e.g. surgery); to take (a test); to accept (a challenge); (6) to be given (e.g. life, talent); (7) to follow; to succeed; to be descended from; (8) to face (south, etc.); (9) (linguistics terminology) to be modified by; (10) to obtain (a pawned item, etc.) by paying a fee; (v1,vi) (11) (kana only) to be well-received; to become popular; to go down well; (12) (colloquialism) (kana only) to be funny; to be humorous

(transitive verb) (1) to receive; to get; (2) to catch (e.g. a ball); (3) to be struck by (wind, waves, sunlight, etc.); (4) to sustain (damage); to incur (a loss); to suffer (an injury); to feel (influence); (5) to undergo (e.g. surgery); to take (a test); to accept (a challenge); (6) to be given (e.g. life, talent); (7) to follow; to succeed; to be descended from; (8) to face (south, etc.); (9) (linguistics terminology) to be modified by; (10) to obtain (a pawned item, etc.) by paying a fee; (v1,vi) (11) (kana only) to be well-received; to become popular; to go down well; (12) (colloquialism) (kana only) to be funny; to be humorous

(transitive verb) to apply for; to make an application; to propose (marriage); to offer (mediation); to make an overture (of peace); to challenge; to lodge (objections); to request (an interview); to subscribe for; to book; to reserve

(transitive verb) (1) to receive; to get; (2) to catch (e.g. a ball); (3) to be struck by (wind, waves, sunlight, etc.); (4) to sustain (damage); to incur (a loss); to suffer (an injury); to feel (influence); (5) to undergo (e.g. surgery); to take (a test); to accept (a challenge); (6) to be given (e.g. life, talent); (7) to follow; to succeed; to be descended from; (8) to face (south, etc.); (9) (linguistics terminology) to be modified by; (10) to obtain (a pawned item, etc.) by paying a fee; (v1,vi) (11) (kana only) to be well-received; to become popular; to go down well; (12) (colloquialism) (kana only) to be funny; to be humorous

(transitive verb) to apply for; to make an application; to propose (marriage); to offer (mediation); to make an overture (of peace); to challenge; to lodge (objections); to request (an interview); to subscribe for; to book; to reserve

(transitive verb) to apply for; to make an application; to propose (marriage); to offer (mediation); to make an overture (of peace); to challenge; to lodge (objections); to request (an interview); to subscribe for; to book; to reserve

(transitive verb) (1) to start; to begin; to commence; (2) to challenge; to pick (a fight); to make (war); (3) to set (traps); to plant (explosives); to lay (mines); (4) {mahj} (See 鳴く・なく・3) to make a meld call

(transitive verb) to apply for; to make an application; to propose (marriage); to offer (mediation); to make an overture (of peace); to challenge; to lodge (objections); to request (an interview); to subscribe for; to book; to reserve

Apparently, we were the first ones who were crazy enough to think that western people might want a combined Chinese, Japanese, and Buddhist dictionary.

A lot of westerners can't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese - and there is a reason for that. Chinese characters and even whole words were borrowed by Japan from the Chinese language in the 5th century. Much of the time, if a word or character is used in both languages, it will have the same or a similar meaning. However, this is not always true. Language evolves, and meanings independently change in each language.

Example: The Chinese character 湯 for soup (hot water) has come to mean bath (hot water) in Japanese. They have the same root meaning of "hot water", but a 湯屋 sign on a bathhouse in Japan would lead a Chinese person to think it was a "soup house" or a place to get a bowl of soup. See this: Soup or Bath

Chinese Buddhist terms come from Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms by William Edward Soothill and Lewis Hodous. This is commonly referred to as "Soothill's'". It was first published in 1937 (and is now off copyright so we can use it here). Some of these definitions may be misleading, incomplete, or dated, but 95% of it is good information. Every professor who teaches Buddhism or Eastern Religion has a copy of this on their bookshelf. We incorporated these 16,850 entries into our dictionary database ourselves (it was lot of work).

No warranty as to the correctness, potential vulgarity, or clarity is expressed or implied. We did not write any of these definitions (though we occasionally act as a contributor/editor to the CC-CEDICT project). You are using this dictionary for free, and you get what you pay for.

The following titles are just to help people who are searching for an Asian dictionary to find this page.